Apparatus for taking samples of milk



23, 1932- w. E. MITTON 1,873,010

APPARATUS FOR TAKING SAMPLES OF MILK I Filed Jan. 17'. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 65 A6 I e5 '15 Aug. 23, 1932. w. E. MITTON A APPARATUS FOR TAKING SAMPLES OF MILK Filed Jan. 17. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. w WT ON 1,873,010

APPARATUS FOR TAKING SAMPLES OF MILK Filed Jan. 17. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNE Patented Aug. 23, V 1932 Unites STATES Persist WILLiAM E. MI'ITON, or new Lennon, WISCONSIN, Assrenon To 'rrHn nonnnngpcotr PANY, on NEW YORK,

N. Y, A CORPORATION on nevi/unless? APPARATUS non Tennis SAMPLES mm Application filed January 17, 1928. Serial No. 247,327.

The invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for taking samples of milk.

It iscustomary at milk receiving and treating stations to take a definite quantity from the milk delivered by each farmer to ascertain the butter content thereof and thereby determine the value of the milk. It is also customary. at those stations where the milk is preserved in tin cans totake a proportionate quantity of the milk delivered by eachfarmer and then mix these samples to gether to ascertain the butter content of the whole supply of milk received by the station during a single day. The object-of the pres ent invention is to provide a simple and efiicient apparatus by which a proportionate quantity of themilk delivered by each farmer maybe taken and by which a substantially definite quantity of the milk delivered by each farmer may be taken at the sametime; Thus by the present invention Iproduce an apparatus for taking the two samples simultaneously, an act which has heretofore, so

farasl am aware, been accomplished in two separate steps. To this end the invention consists in the improved mllksample taklng apparatus hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings ,illustrating the preferred form of the'invention, Fig.

his a front elevation of the improved apparatusfor taking-samples of milk; Fig. 2 is a top plan of theappara'tus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlargedlongitudinal section through the right hand end ot'the apparatus,

the section being-taken on the'line of Fig. l "Fig.4 is a front elevation of the part ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 8, with the.

right hand end thereof taken on the line 4t4 ofFig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. abut with the sectional part taken on the line 5 5 of'FigQZB'; Fig. (Sis a side elevation of the master valveythis position-show- """ing-to best advantage the various passages in the valve; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of thewa'lve shown in Fig. 6, withthe passages therein indicated in dotted lines; Flg. 8 isa sideelevation of one of thevalves forcon- J trolling the :specifie sample tubes; Fig. 9-is a section taken .on the line 99 of ig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but sho'wing the master valve. in a different position Fig. 11 is .a section taken on theline 1111 of Fig. 4; andFig: 12 is a View similar to Fig. 11, .butshowing the'valvein. a difi'erent position.

The improved apparatus for taking .sam-' ples'of milk, asiillustrated in the drawings, comprises a master tube; 15 in whichtheproportionate 1 sample of milkis taken 1 and a:

series of tubes 1 16 in which the. substantially: equal, specific samples of milk are taken; The tube 15 is closed at its .upperiend, Whereas the tubes 16areopen attheiivupper ends- At their lower ends the tube 15 and the :tubes transverselyarranged conicalvalve seat. In

these valve seats are. located :the valve 19. for;

controlling the passage ofthe milk into and e from the master tube-15 and the valves 20' for controlling the passage .of-themilk :into and from the tubeslfi. ,Aoross-bar 21 holds the upper ends of-the tubes 16 against dis-: placement. The tubes E15 and-16 may be formed ofany'suitable material; ,and:the;-tube 15 "is'provided on its front facerwith agrad'ur atedglass panel 28. The panel 23 is graduatedto indicate cubic cen'timeters, each.grad uation indicating, five ,cubievcentimeters.

In taking samples of milk proportionate to the quantity ofmillndelivered thef-armers, the operator ascertains within substantially' five pounds how much milk the farmer in question delivers. -I-Ie'then controls the' apparatus to takeinto the tube'15'aiquantity oi" milk proportionate to the quantity delivered by the farmer. ln'actual practice, the operator; admits-into ;the"tube :l 5 one and-sixtenths cubic centimeters of milk ioreach; pound of milk delivered byl5h6!f&11118l.. ll3 will'beassumedftor therpurposesof thezpres ent description;however, that the operator admits intothe tube 15 one; cubic centimeter:

of milk for each pound delivered by the farmer, or five cubic centimeters for each five pounds of milk. After taking the proportionate sample of the milk delivered by each farmeiythe sample is run into a receiving tank in which the aggregate or composite proportionate samples of milk are testedto ascertain the'butter content of all the m lk hand tube 24 and the left hand tube 25 increase in length and decrease in diameter proportionately to their distance from the master tube 15. Each tube 16 corresponds to oneof the classes or divisions into. which the farmers are placed according to the quantity ofmilk they customarily deliver at" any one time to the station. For the purpose of illuss tration, it will be assumed that the right hand tube .24 is used for farmers delivering less than one hundredpounds of milk,that the second tube-26 is used for farmers deliveringbetween' one hundred and 7 two hundred pounds of milk, and soon. The various classes or divisions may be arbitrarily fixed and: divided from each other by a greater or,

less quantity of milk as found convenient. The sample .of milk taken into each tube16 iskept separate because on the test of its proportion ofbutter content is determined the price paid to the farmer for the milk he has delivered to the station. 7

This arrangement affords a quick'and-easy means of extracting a substantially definite quantity of milk from the proportionate sample in the graduated tube. Suppose for example the farmer delivers 700 lbs. of milk and that accordingly the operatorv admits milk'into the graduated tube until it reaches the mark indicating 700 lbs. By opening the valve connected with thelongest specified sample tube, namely, that numbered 25, it is apparent that the milk in the two tubes will come to a common level; Since only a substantially definitequantity of' milk is wanted for the specific sample-it is obvious that tube 25 must be of relatively small diam eter to compensate for the height to which the milk will rise in it. This diameter is made proportionate to the distance the tube is from the graduated tube, since the passage leading from thegraduated tube to the specific sample tube 25 will also be full of milk.

011 the other hand if onlyabout 100 lbs. of milk are delivered by the farmer the valve remit of the shortest tube, that marked 24, will be opened. Since the milk will rise in tube 24 only a short distance, and the quantity must be definite to satisfy the'requirements of the specific sample, it is obvious that tube 24 must be of relatively large diameter. This diameter is made proportionate to the distance the tube is from the graduated tube The reason-for having the specific sample tubes as long as they are shown in the'drawings is to guardagainst any milk running out of the upper ends of the tubes when the valve associated with the graduated tube is 7 opened to admit the milk into the specificv sample tube.

The mechanism by which the proportionate milk sample is-admitted into the mastertube'15 and by which a definite quantity or; specific sample is abstracted from themilk in the tube 15 and admitted into one of the tubes '16, and after which the remaining milk in the tube 15 is drained into-the composite sample tank and the specific sample drained into the customary sample bottle comprises the fol-v lowing :The milk delivered by each farmer isreceived in a weighing tank in which is located the inlet end of a pipe 28 the outlet end? of which opens into a duct 29 formed in the.

lower right end of the manifold 27andiwhi'ch leads to the larger end of the conical seat in 9 which the master valve 19 is located'. In the normal position of the valve 19 1), in: which position the tube 15 is draining through the valve 19, the duct29is cut off from the tube 15 by the part 30 (Fig. 4).. of

thevalve 19. \Vhen the proportionate sampleof the milk in the weighing tank is to be I admitted into the tube=.l.5', the operator turns: the handle 32 oftthe-valve 19. in a counterclockwise direction into the positionindicated in Figs. 4- and19, thereby bringing the for-- wardz'end: of a groove 33 formedlongitudinally in the surface of the valve 19 into regi'sv try with the inner end of the duct 29. The rear end of the groove 33 communicates with the l-ower-endof a hole 34 which passes trans versely through the body of the valve 19, and-whenthe valve 19 has been turned to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 9 the'upper end of the hole34' registers with a hole 35 in the manifold leading into the lowerendf of"the tube 15. The operator permits thenilk to;

flow into the tube-15 until its level reaches;

the point corresponding to the number of pounds of milk in the weighing tank. For example, if the farmer has delivered two'hundred and eightly-five pounds of milk,the operator will permit the milk to rise in-the tube 15 to the point'indicated at 31 on the gradu ated panel 23'. When thelevel ofthe milk. has reached this point the operator then turns thehandle 32 of the valve 19 in the reverseor clockwise direction to connect the upper end of the hole 34 with the discharge hole or outlet 36. of the tube 15. inthefmanis told, and the lower endofthe hole 341211121 the groove 33 with the duct37 which is formed "manifold 17 and leads through the vertical hole 42 in the manifold into the upper side of the smaller endof the conical seat in which the valve 19 islocated. While the "valve 19 is in normal draining position, as indicated in Fig. 10, the part 43 (Fig.5) o'f-the valve 19 covers and thereby seals the lowerend of the hole 4-2. WhenyhoWever', the valve 19 has been turned to thepositi-on indicated in Figs. 4 and 9 to admit inilkinto the tube 15, the rear end ofa groove tformed longitudinally in the smaller end of the valve 19 is broughtinto registry with the lower end of the hole 42; The forward end'of the-groove 44 opens into the upper; end of an arcuate groove45 formed on the right hand side of the valve and which is in constant registry with'the inner. end of a duct 46 formed in the lower rearside of the right hand end of the manifold 17. The duct 46 opensi-nto-apipe 47 which is connected within-vacuum creating means not shown). {When the requisite quantity of milk has been forced into the tube because of the'vacuumtherein and' the valve 19 has been turned to connectthe duct 37 with the tube 15 through the hole 3d, the tube '15 is cutoff from the vacuum creating means by the part 43 of the valve 19.

- Before the QO-Centimeter sample of milk can be withdrawn from the proportionate sample in the tube 15 it is necessary to break thevacuum above the milk in'the'tubei1'5.

For this purpose the smaller endof the valve 19 is provided with a-hole49eiitending radially from the surface of the valve to the axis thereof and communicating at its inner end with the inner'end of a hole '50 formed'axially in the smaller end of the valve and extending outwardly through the threaded" stem. 51 thereof. In the hole '50 is located an outwardly seating ball valve 52. Whilethe'valve 19 is in the position indicated inFigsI 4 and 9, in which position the-tube 15isin communication with the duct 29, the outer end of the hole 49 is covered by the adjacent part of the valve seat in the manifold. Consequently the air pressure has no eifect on the valve 52. W hen, however, the valve, 19m been turned in the clockwise directiony cuttingofi theitjube 15. from the vacuum {creating-means and,

bringing 5 the outer end of-the hole 49*i nto substantially 90 rection th'e duet 3f7 is put 'intocominunicatinn "positionfindicatedin -"tion-ate' sample of milk'ha be milk will flow throng-b the duct and 57 into the tube 545; ii

tube {54 which is open at "t pnrpose. quantity of mllk the into 5.4 is" fer practical twenty cubic beI-it'imeters.

registry withth'e lower and of the th n, the

ball valve '52'is unseated' by the air pressure on its outer side, thereby "permitting: the air to fill the pipe -and thespace in the tube 15 above the milk'thereih; -Milk is thus permitted to run out of the tube 15 intothe (11101137. i

{When the milk received "from'a has been dumpedfinto the weighing tank aandthe operator ascertains inwhatclass the milkio'f the farmer hasbeen plaeed,-heturns the ,valive hundred: pounds, to which 'iclass 559cmpounds' an'd that? therefore: belongs in the class to which tube 54 corresponds tliesoperator turns the valve 55 'bontrollingiitube Bin 20*0f the tube "corresphndingto: that classzto connect the tube with a the; duct 37; vIn the present instance the milk deliveredaxhythe farmerfalls in the clas'sdncludin'g allgniilk ranging from; two hundred; pounds to three responds. Having found that? the milkijust f received-weighs two HfiIId'IBdSEfidKBTghty-fiYG a V a counter-clockwise directien. Heidoesathis V beforeh' turns the valve 19 to admit theiproportion ate sample of milk into :thetu'hesM. By taking the'pre'caution to turn thevalvie 55 previous to? turning the valve 19to'ad1'n'it "into the master 1 tube 15 the operator ."thereby makes sure that' :no imi'lk will.

flow pastwthe valve 55 "in 'the' d-uct; into.

while the; valves "20 are iininormal 051 are ing ali ne nent with duct 3'Z-hnd thereby .iconstitu te with the: duct 131 a; freelp'a'ssa ge from the valve 19"into'the= pipe 39,.

. v, valve 120 has been "turned through. an'iang le 'of in a counter-clockwise di- 'with the" tube 16 conti'olled; hy'rthe vaflve through the arcuate groove 56' which hon:-

municate's' at one end with the 'foryva rd'endid'f a groove 57- formed-lon-gi-tudinal ly in thetsurifa'eeot the valve. The inner end iott'he groove 5'Twhi 1e the v'a1ve 20 is in-thisipositionmegiste rs with the lower end of'ahole 58 'oi'm in the "manifold aridleading' fi-i mf h sta 'up into the'tuhe 1-6 Shove-it.

V Thus wheh the valve 55 of-the tube 54has been turned to-the 'd thepr" "ore'n j-diawn III-1'60 the tube and' 'the valve "1*9thereofturned to permit the milk to run into "t1 valve and then fiowthrough in One its levejl-ih regents i thelcompio'sitew sample tank before the: *ZOcentimeter sample is admitted into the tube-I54when the val've. :19 is turned'in the counter-clockwise dihection connect" the tube 15gwith duct 3521. "fl he n'lecess'ity for ;thisprecaution lies in the fact "t at tio'n a'sindicated in'iFigs. l ahd 4, thearcnate gr0ovesf56 formedfi'n the larger ends thereof eat ena a *The size length of-the tube 16' are proportioned, as explainedabove, to their distance from'the masritube 15,. and these dimensions take into A "consideration the quantity of milk in the duct *37 between the tube and' the speeific tube 16 in question. v V

When the specific sample of milk has -v-out throughthe pipe it the remaming'milk in the tube 15 to flow 39 into the composite s'ampletank and at the same time permits the milk; in the tube 54: to flow outlet pipe 59 into 'The outlet pipe 59 alines with; a hole 60 formed out through; the the specific sample bottle.

" "in thelowerside of the manifold 17 'in alinemom with; =the hole 58.

as turned to its normal position thertransverse hole 61 therein established a communication between the hole 58;and thehole 60 ''to' permit the. specific sample in the tube 5,4 -to flow outthrough theoutlet pipe 59 lnto the lsample bottle.

l tube-15 orin the duct '1 no milk remainiin the 37 on the completion In" order that of each sample taking operationand before the next sample of" 15, 1 admit air milk is let into the tube un'der'pressure into the upper end of the tube ;15 to acton themilktherein to force it out-of the I @duct 37 but in orderathat this actionmay not My take .place until the specific sample'hasbeen let into its respective tube admission-ofthe compressed air into the tube 116, -.I .control the 115 .bvmeans ofthe ,valve associated with the tube :ple of:

16 which contains the specificsammilk; The arrangement is [such that :the turning of the valve 20 toadmit the spe- "cific sample of milk into 7 its tube 16 shuts 4 off the tube 115-from izvalve 20 in the reverse thesource ofcompressed hand the turning of the r, and on theother direction to discharge 9 Al-the specific sample of :milk through the outlet 59'pfe'rmits the airunder-press'ure-to pass into the upper end of the 'tube- 15. In the rear side of the manifold 17 andlextending so is ngitudinally'throughout the length thereof located a duct 63 which discharges at its right hand end into the valve seat in which located the valve 19., Atits left hand or inletend the duct63 is connected with the part64 of a'pipe65 which leads tothesource 1 d thecomp se cated avalve 66. Inthe rear or of each valve 20 is a. transverse In the pipe 65 is. 10-

smaller end ho 6 7 0 when allthe valves 20 are in normal position, b as indicated in Fig. :1, the holes 67 in the 'l valves 20 all aline with theduct 63 and constitute with the duct 63 a continuous passage from thepipe 64 to the valve 19. While the valve 19 is in the position indicated in Figs.

andi9, admitting mllk from the weighing nkinto the tube 15, the duct63is shut ofll from: the tube the part 68 the {valve .19., "has been, turned to putthe tube15 into com- '15, No compressed air, however, 7

end v of the duct .63 under hen the valve 55 sample of tube and through the,

. ate groove ,tionshown n groove 72 1S v apparatus for taking (Fi f When, however,

munication with the. duct 37 the'outer end of a hole 69in the valve 19 is brought into alinement with; the discharge end of the duct 63. The hole 69 extends radially inward 'to the axis. of the valve 19and at its inner end communicates with the forward end of an axial hole {7Ov which communicates atits rear end with the axial-hole 50.. Since the turnthe valve 19 ing of the valve'19 toput the tube 15 into communication with the duct 37 alines the hole 49 in the valve 19 with the hole 42 in the manifold 17 7 there s now a free passage from the duct63 up into. the upper part of the tube H p is admitted int h i h rse these conditions-until after the valve 20 associated with the tube 16 containing the specific milkhasbeen returned to normal position. i

- milk remaining in the-duct 29 and the pipe 28 back into the weighing tank. In the largerendofthe valve 19 is formed an arcuv 2 which, when the valve 19 is intheposition sho wnFigs. 4 and 9, is out of; communication with the duct 29. 7 But when the valve 19 has been turned to the posi- FigrlQ theilower end of the I ii communication; with the duct 29 and he upper end'ofthe groove 72 is in communication with. a duct 73 which connects at 1ts outer endwith a pipe 74: connectedbytheupright pipe 7 5 with the pipe 65., Intheipipe- 75 is a valve 76. It is thus seen that the turning of the valve 19 in the '5 counter-clockwise direction to shut oif the tube 15. from the duct 29 puts the duct 29 communication. with the sourcev of compressed air, althoughthe tube 15' is not put in commun cation with the source of com- ,pressed air until after thevalve 2O controlling the specific sample turned back to normal position.

of milk has been 1 .The mode of operation of the improved samples of milk is as follows It is "assumed that the farmer has delivered two hundred and eighty-five pounds .of milk at the station and that consequently the operator turns the valve 55 of thetube 54 which tube corresponds to the class in which the farmer is placed. The

operator then turns the valve 19 to the positionindicated in Figsg l. and 9 to permit the ,imilktoreach the point indicated at'31 on the panel 23. The milknow inthe tube :15 is a.

-When the compressed air is ad- .imitted into the hole 70 of the valve 19 it'acts from the weighing tank through the pipe 28,

the duct, 29, the hole 3 l and the hole up into the tube 15. The turning ofthe valve 55 associated with the tube 54 previous to turning the valve 19 resulted in putting the duct 37 into communication with the tube 54 through the groove 56, the groove 57 andthe hole 58. This turning of the valve 55 causes. the part 77 thereof to cut oif the passage through the duct 37 beyond the valve 55. Consequently when the valve 19 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 10, a portionof the milk in p-the tube 15 will .flow through the duct 3711p into the tube 54 and find its level therein. The turning of the valve 19 in a clockwise direction cuts ofi' the groove 44 from the hole 42 and puts the hole 49in alinement therewith to admit air past by the valve 52 into the pipe to break the vacuum in the tube 15 and permit the milk to flow freely out of the tube. The specific sample of milk taken into the tube 54 is discharged through the outlet 59 into a sample bottle by turning the valve 55-back to normal position. This return of the valve 55 to normal position brings the groove 56 into alinement with the duct 37 again to permit the remainder ofthe milk in" the tube 15 to flow out through the pipe 39 into the composite sample tank. And the turning of'the' valve 55 to normal position realinesth'e hole'67 in its rear end with the duct 63 to admit air under pressure into-the upper part of the tube 15 to efiect the complete and speedyremoval of the milkin the tube15 and the: duct 37, theturningof the-valve 19 in the. clockwise direction having realined the hole 69 with the duct 63 at the same time that the hole 49- was realined with the hole l2. The apparatusis now .in condition for taking another composite sample and another specific sample of milk.

Whatl claimis new and desireto secure byv Letters Patent is: V a v 1. An apparatus of the character-described comprising, an upright graduated tube, a series of upright specific sample tubes, a manifold in which the tubes are mounted and having passages by which the lower end of the graduated tube may be'put into communication with thelower ends of the specific sample tubes, means whereby a predetermined amount of milk maybe transferred'to the graduated tube, and controllable means whereby a predeterminedquantity of the milk in the graduated tube may be discharged therefrom into one of the specific sample tubes. o

2. An apparatus ofthecharacter. described. comprising, an upright graduated tube,

means. whereby a predetermined quantity of milk may "be transferredv to the graduated tube, an upright specific sample tube, a-manifold inwhichthe tubes aresuppmtted,there the lower endof the specific sample tube is adapted to beput intocommunication, with the .lower end of the graduated tube, means" for controlling the admissionof milligintothe beingia duct in the manifold. through which graduated tube and for controlling the pas; Y

sageaof n1ilk..,from the graduated tube into theduot leading to the specific sample tube,

and means for. controlling the passage of milk from the duct into thespecificsampletube and the .discharge off themilk-from the spa cific sample'tube; 3. Anapparatus of thecharacter described comprising,v an upright graduated tube,

meansadapted for connecting the top of the" proportionate sample tube, to, a yacuum ore-- at ng, meanswherebya vacuum may be one ated in the tube to permit mil-kto flow into it a through the lower end; thereof, specific sample tube, thetubes are mounted, there being a duct an upright a manifold- .in which in the manifold through whichthe lower end of the specific sample tube is ada ted'to be put into cornmunicationjwith the lower end.

of the graduatedtube, means for controlling the admission of milk into the graduated tube and for. controllingthe passage of milk from the graduated tube into the duct, and means fmo for controlling the passage of milk from the duct'into therspecific sample tube and the discharge of the milktfrom the specificsample tube. r a v .4, An.,apparatus of the character describe comprising, an upright tube arranged to receive proportionatesamples of the batches of milk to be tested, an upright specific saniple tube,la manifold in which the tubes are mounted,,there being. a duct in the manifold through .which' the lower end of the propor tionate sample tube may communicate with the lower. end of the specific sample tube, means associated with'the proportionate sample tubeto .adinit milk into the tube and to drain the milk from the tubelinto the duct between the two tubes, and means associated With theospecific. sample. tube. for. controlling the admission of ,a definite'quantity of the milk into the specific sample tube, and for controlling'the discharge of'the remainder of the milk in the proportionate sample tube from the apparatus.-

5. .An apparatus of the class described comprising, an upright tube arranged'to receive proportion ate samples of the batches ofmi-lk to rbeztested, a series of upright specific sann ple tubesdecreasing in diameter and increasing in length proportionately to their distance fromthe proportionate sample. tube, a

manifoldin. which the lowerends .of the tubes tionate sample tube,

are mounted, said manifold having passages through the lower ends of the specific sample tubes, controllable means for admitting a predetermined quantity of milk into the proporand means whereby a substantially definite quantity of the milk t in the proportionate sample .tube may be admitted into a specific sample tube irrespective of its distance from the proportionate sampletube,

passage leading thespecificsample tubes, and apassage lead- 6. An apparatus of the character described comprising, an upright graduated tube closed at'its upper end, a series of upright specific sampletubes open at their upper ends, a manifold in which the lower ends of the tubes are fixed, said' manifold having apassage leading into the graduated tube, a

from the graduated tube into the specific sample tubes ,'a

ing from each of g valve inthe manifold and having provision -l for controlling the passages leading into and graduated tubeso as tobreak the'vacuum therein and permit milk -to V be, discharged therefrom into a specific sample tube, and means whereby compressed air may be ad- 7 mittedinto the graduated tube toforce the remaining milk out of the graduated tube and out of a passage in the manifold.

s 7. An apparatus ofthe character described comprising, an upright graduated tube '7 closed. at its upper end, a series of upright specific sample tubes .open-atitheir upper ends, a manifold. in which the lower ends of the tubes are fixed, said manifold having a passage leading intolthe graduated tube. a

passage leading from, the graduated tube into the specific sample tubes, and a passage leading from each of the specific sample tubes, a valve in the manifold and having j so provision for controlling the passages leading into and from thegraduatedtube, a series of valves in the manifold corresponding to the specific sample tubes and having provision for controlling the passages leading into and from-the sample tubes, respectively, means adapted for connecting the top of the graduated tube to avacuum creating means whereby a vacuum maybe created in the graduated tube so that milk maybe trans ferred thereto, and means wherebythevam uuin may be'broken in the upper part of the which thelower end of the proper tionate sample tube may communicate with meow 7 transferred therefrom;

8. An apparatus of the character described comprising," an upright tube closed at its upper end and adaptedto receive proportionate samples of the batches of milk to be tested, a series of upright specific sample tubes open at their upper ends and decreasing in diameter and increasing in length proportionately to their distance from the proportionate sample tube, an elongated manifold in which the lower ends of the tubes are mounted, said manifold having a passage leading into the proportionate sample tube, a passage leading from the proportionate sample tube into the specific sample tubes,

graduatedtube to perm t t milkv tollbey and a passage leading from each; of the spe- V cific sample tubes, a valve in the manifold and having provision for controlling the passages leading into and from the proportionate sample tube, a series of valves in the manifold corresponding to the specificsample tubes and having provision for control ling'the passagesleading into and from the specific sample tubes, respectively, means adapted for connecting the top of the pro-v portionate sample tubeto a vacuum creating means whereby the air may be withdrawn from the proportionate sample tube to permit a predetermined amount of milk to be admitted into the tube, means whereby air maybe admitted into the ple tube to'permit milk to be discharged therefrom into a specific sample tube, and means'whereby compressed air may be admitted into the proportionate sample tube to force out any milk remaining in the tube or in a passage ofthe manifold. V

9. In anfgapparatus of the'character de scribed, a tube, means adapted for connectproportionate sam- 7 ing the tube with a vacuum creating means whereby a. predetermined quantity of milk may be admitted into the tube, a valve for controlling the admission of the milk into the tube, and means for receiving and thereby automatically measuringa substantially definite quantity of milk from the tube, said means comprising one of several tubes of differentdia-meters and lengths.

10. "In an apparatus of the character described, a tube, means adapted for connecting the tube with a vacuum creating means whereby a predetermined qauntity of milk may be admitted into the tube, a valve for controlling the admission of the milk into the tube, means for receiving and thereby automatically measuring a substantially definite quantity of milk from the tube, said means comprising one of a. group of tubes, all of which are arranged for connection with the first-mentioned tube and. means whereby the remainder of the milk in thefirst-mentioned tubemay be withdrawn therefrom.

11. In an apparatusof the characterdescribed, a graduated tube in which a'proportionate sample of milk may be taken, means adapted for connecting the tube with a vacuum creating means whereby the milk is admitted into' the tube, means for controlling the admission ofthe milk into the tube, and. means for receiving and thereby automatically measuring a substantially definite sample of milk from the proportionate sample in the tube, said means comprising'one of a group of tubes connected to the graduated tube.

WILLIAM E. MITTON. 

